I've seen references to fly on the wall documentaries as cinema-directo, but as to the meaning as in 'I'd like to be a fly on the wall during that meeting', I don't really know.

Ben

15th January 2007, 03:08 PM

Just asked Marina - she says it doesn't exist/there is no equivalent...

eldeano

15th January 2007, 03:23 PM

Just asked Marina - she says it doesn't exist/there is no equivalent...

What about un observador invisible? :confused:

tad

15th January 2007, 07:52 PM

Chances are it won't be ser una mosca en la pared.

This opened up a debate within the small confines of my mind.
My immediate thought was that the direct translation should be 'estar una mosca en la pared'- denoting the position of the fly but now I'm thinking about the concept or essence of 'being a fly on the wall' might after all merit ser. Bloody language.

rob

15th January 2007, 07:55 PM

Don't worry tad, I thought exactly the same as you :(

Edith

15th January 2007, 08:40 PM

Chances are it won't be ser una mosca en la pared.

Which proves once again that most idiomatic expressions can't be translated literally... and, talking about flies, how would you translate por si las moscas into English? There is no literal translation either, por si las moscas means just in case.